Ultimate Blog Party 2009

This virtual blog party is surreal. It's international in depth and up-close and personal in breadth. The party, which runs March 20-27 is hosted by a blog site called 5minutesformom.com, and already the stats are impressive. On day 2, close to 1,500 bloggers of just about every persuasion have added their link to the party. Nearly 200 have posted their facebook links, and nearly 600 have signed posted their twitter addresses.

Invitations to the party come in all sorts of media - from photos of wine salutes to families around the table sharing cupcakes and party favors.

Of course, there are nearly 100 prizes that help spur the activity, many baby related items, but also ones generic enough to be useful to almost everyone. My favorite was an international prize:
INTL 34 — $30 care package of Italian regional delicacies
Provided by: Milanese Masala
Prize details: Hankering for an authentic taste of Italy? Milanese Masala is donating a $30 care package full of goodies direct from “The Boot”.

I've not only been hankering for an authentic taste of Italy ever since I left San Francisco, but have entered every trip to Italy sweepstakes I can find. (Come on, Olive Garden, be good to this half-Italian pizza lover!)

The prize entry rules require that you post comments on at least 20 blogger websites. I decided to visit The Milanese Masala site first at http://milanesemasala.wordpress.com/2009/03/. There I learned the Masala came from the blogger's Indian heritage (I love anything cooked using garam masala spice mix.) Linda posted a great Seinfeld clip on the Costanza family's Festivus celebration (where they have a pipe instead of a tree and spend their holiday being critical). In a archived post, she mentioned a Milanese singing idol named Adriano Celentano. He apparently loved Elvis and imitated his style in some of his songs, such as the one called "Prisencolinensinainciusol" below on youtube. Can you imagine that title ever reaching No. 1 on the Hit Parade? Fact is, I watch this video frequently now. I love it!
Ciao bella, for now.




PS - If some other worthy blogger wins the Milanese package, I'd be interested in (aren't these prizes wonderful and generous???):

58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer
Provided by: Moms Who Think
Prize details: From Amish Friendship Bread to Decadent Cheesecake and all the meals in between dessert, Moms Who Think has recipes you’ll love. We would like to donate a Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer to help make one lucky winner’s home cooking even easier. (winner’s choice of color, $349.99 retail value)

21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice
Prize details: Agoosa would like to donate a $50 Target gift card to one winner.

88 –$40 gift certificate to Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Provided by: The Divine Miss Mommy
Prize details: Discover the Passion, the Thrill and the Grill of Carrabba’s! The Divine Miss Mommy would like to donate a $40 gift certificate to three winners to be used at any Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

20 – 5 bars of handmade goat milk soap, your choice of scent
Provided by: Goat Milk Stuff
Prize details: Feel the difference that goat milk makes! Goat Milk Stuff is donating 5 bars of our handmade goat milk soap (made with milk from our own dairy goats). And the best part - you get to choose your favorite scents!

43 — Two $25 gift certificate to eco Store USA
Provided by: Rachael @ Little Bites of Heaven
Prize details: Eco store has eco friendly products for your home + life; their tagline reads No Nasty Chemicals™. Little Bites of Heaven would like to offer a $25 gift certificate to two winners to be used at their online store.

83 – Prize: $25 Gift Certificate to ecostoreusa.com
Provided by: Sweet Serendipity
Prize details: Winner will receive a gift card worth $25 to be used at ecostoreusa.com to purchase earth friendly products.

55 – $21 Strawberry Smash Moisturizer from Farmhouse Fresh
Provided by: Now What Baby
Prize details: Enjoy this deliciously scented strawberry moisturizer made with live strawberry cells! The packaging is so cute you have just have to see it!!


21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice
Prize details: Agoosa would like to donate a $50 Target gift card to one winner.

22 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Beginner Baby Blog
Prize details: Everyone loves a gift card! Beginner Baby Blog would like to donate a $50 Target gift card to one winner.

26 — $30 gift certificate to Target
Provided by: Little Miss Hannah - Our Fight Against Gaucher’s Disease
Prize details: Go shopping!

91 — $25 gift card to Target
Provided by: Mummy Deals
Prize details: What girly doesn’t want a moment to splurge at Target? Enter to win a $25 gift card from Mummy Deals and go shopping on me!

118 — $25.00 Old Navy Gift Card
Provided by: Manic Mother
Prize details: Buy something fun for yourself or the little one

130 — $25 gift certificate for DOVE Chocolate Discoveries
Provided by: Aimee Wilson, Independent Chocolatier
Prize details: Discover new ways of enjoying chocolate with exclusive DOVE Chocolate Discoveries. This prize must be redeemed directly with this Chocolatier only.

12 — $20 gift certificate to The Gift Closet
Provided by: The Gift Closet
Prize details: Pamper yourself with this $20 Gift Certificate to The Gift Closet! Choose from my handmade Shea Butter, Soy Linen & Body Spray, Scrabble Pendants, or Scrabble Magnets!

42 — 5 kajeet phones with $5 of airtime
Provided by: kajeet
Prize details: kajeet the pay-as-you-go cell phone service for kids, created from a kid’s point of view. kajeet services include unlimited free parental controls and GPS – along with all the text, pictures, talk and games that kids want. kajeet is pay as you go with no long term contracts, no activation fees, no termination fees, and no high overage surprises.